Economic forecasts

Spring 2018 Economic Forecast: Expansion to continue, amid new risks

Growth rates for the EU and the euro area beat expectations in 2017 to reach a 10-year high at 2.4%. Growth is set to remain strong in 2018 and ease only slightly in 2019, with growth of 2.3% and 2.0% respectively in both the EU and the euro area.

Winter 2018 Economic Forecast

Growth rates for the euro area and the EU beat expectations last year as the transition from economic recovery to expansion continues. The euro area and EU economies are both estimated to have grown by 2.4% in 2017, the fastest pace in a decade.

Autumn 2017 Economic Forecast

The euro area economy is on track to grow at its fastest pace in a decade this year, with real GDP growth forecast at 2.2%. This is substantially higher than expected in spring (1.7%).
The EU economy as a whole is also set to beat expectations with robust growth of 2.3% this year (up from 1.9% in spring).

Spring 2017 Economic Forecast

Winter 2017 Economic Forecast

Having proven resilient to global challenges last year, the European economic recovery is expected to continue this year and next: for the first time in almost a decade, the economies of all EU Member States are expected to grow throughout the entire forecasting period (2016, 2017 and 2018). However, the outlook is surrounded by higher-than-usual uncertainty.

Autumn 2016 Economic Forecast

Commission forecasts 2017 euro area growth of 1.5% and EU growth of 1.6% hindrances to growth and the weakening of supportive factors. This page groups all documents and media related to the Autumn 2016 economic forecast, as well as a video summarising the main findings.

Spring 2016 Economic Forecast

Commission forecasts euro area growth of 1.6% and EU growth of 1.8% in 2016. Economic growth in Europe is expected to remain modest as key trading partners' performance has slowed and some of the so far supportive factors start to wane. This page groups all documents and media related to the Spring 2016 economic forecast, as well as a video summarising the main findings.

Winter 2016 Economic Forecast

The European economy is now entering its fourth year of recovery and growth continues at a moderate rate, driven mainly by consumption. At the same time, much of the world economy is grappling with major challenges and risks to European growth are therefore increasing. This page groups all documents and media related to the Winter 2016 economic forecast, as well as a video summarising the main findings.

Autumn 2015 economic forecast

The economic recovery in the euro area and the European Union as a whole is now in its third year. It should continue at a modest pace next year despite more challenging conditions in the global economy. This page groups all documents and media related to the Autumn 2015 economic forecast.